Page 78 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

He looked so shattered it broke her. Miranda placed her hands to the side of his head, stroked his face. She didn’t know how else to soothe him.

“I must be fucking fated to bring ruin to this clan,” Govek said, his voice hollow. “An abomination of the Fades who brings naught but destruction.”

“Govek!”

The roar had them both looking up, and the warlord was barreling toward them so fast that Miranda had the sudden urge to flee.

“Fuck, Govek,” Karthoc spat. “I didn’t expect you to bolt. What in Fades?”

“What were you thinking, Karthoc?” Govek snarled.

“For fuck’s sake, you already knew this mantel would fall upon you when we found Tavggol’s—” Karthoc stopped, straightening his spine as Govek balled his fists. “You want to challenge me, Govek? Cousin or not, I will accept.”

Miranda started to panic. She had no idea what to do. She didn’t want to leave Govek’s side but she didn’t want to be caught between the massive brawling inhuman males either.

Thankfully, Govek cooled off at that. “I want nothing from you, Karthoc,” Govek snapped, turning on his heel, snatching up Miranda’s hand and pulling her along.

“For fuck’s sake, Govek. I thought you would want this!” Karthoc stormed after them, “Those miserable wretches have looked down on your talents all your life, this is your chance to?—”

“What talents?” Govek snarled, still not slowing, though he glanced to check on Miranda. She worked to keep her breathing steady, not particularly wanting to slow down either. “The ones that make me a fucking blight on this clan?”

“What kind of blight provides more than half the meat? What blight protects the clan from ruthless predators? What blight seeks retribution for an honored member? No other member of this fucking clan had the balls to join my forces and return Tavggol’s body.”

Govek was like a glass under a boulder, shuddering, cracking, ready to shatter. And Miranda wasn’t certain she could put him back together after he was crushed to dust.

“Your strength and magic make you mighty. They make you stronger and better than anyone else here,” Karthoc raged. “More than half of my warriors can no longer commune with the Fades! The other half hardly bear it. And now the Fades have gifted us warrior males who can not only commune but can conjure. Who can wield the Fades gifts for the better! Who can fight against the Waking Order and render them asunder once and for all.”

“So, I’m to be a weapon for you, then?” Govek raged, whirling about to face his cousin again. “You intend to use me and all these males for your own gains?”

“For the gain of all orcs!” Karthoc roared, making Miranda jump and skitter behind Govek. “This war threatens us all!”

“You’re blustering fools.”

The words cut like a slice of lightning through Miranda’s brain, but when she released Govek’s arm the sensation evaporated leaving an odd numbness at the corners of her thoughts. Her panic over the fight had ebbed slightly.

It ebbed more when she saw that Govek and Karthoc were no longer at each other’s throats. They staggered away from each other, palms to foreheads.

Karthoc recovered first and rounded on the orc who had approached them. “Use that magic on me again, Evythiken, and I will slaughter you where you stand, seer or no.”

“I’d like to see you make the attempt,” the orc said without the intensity, but Miranda was still struck dumb.

Though he couldn’t have been any older than Govek, this male gave off an intense aura and was not like any of the others she’d seen.

He was white, or at least extremely pale green. He had no hair, just a smooth bald head. His jaw was untucked, and his teeth were long, sharper than the burley Karthoc’s or even Govek’s. His frame was slender beneath deep violet robes. And his eyes were white. Not a hint of a pupil. Blind.

This was the seer.

“I came to tell you that Chief Ergoth is spouting off in the hall, Karthoc. You’re going to want to do something about it, or it’s going to lead to chaos.”

“Fuck,” Karthoc snarled, glancing at Govek. “I’m not through with this.”

“You should be,” the seer said firmly. “You’re not getting any further with him today.”

“I know how to handle my own kin, Seer,” Karthoc snarled.

Miranda gulped hard, wrung her hands, and withheld the urge to bombard the seer with questions.

“Go much further and Govek is going to leave.”

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